NBA All-Star Saturday summary | Dunk Contest, Three Point Contest, Skills Challenge, Stephen vs. Sabrina
McClung brought out the Big Fella, Shaq, for his final dunk of the night and got 50's across the board to secure his second straight Dunk Contest title. The G-Leaguer is the only one that is keeping the event afloat, but told Allie LaForce that he doesn't know if he's going to come back next year for his three-peat.
We've got to give it up to Jaylen Brown. Not many All-NBA players are willing to participate in the Dunk Contest. Having said that, his dunks were the least spectacular of the night, but somehow he made it to the final against McClung.
Toppin had the best dunk of the night, but unfortunately didn't move on to the final after some questionable scores from the judges.
It was another year full of lackluster dunks in the Dunk Contest. Last year's champion Mac McClung came in looking for a back to back bid against Jaylen Brown, Jaime Jaquez and Obie Topin. McClung and Jaylen Brown advanced to the final after their two first round dunks.
Hopefully this is just the first of many of these contests to come. Steph isn't going to be around forever but as long as he and Sabrina are still playing I would love to see this event continue. It was great for the fans, great for the sport of basketball and great for the charities that both sharp shooters represented.
Curry had a slow start, but once he started to heat up there was no stopping him. He had a final score of 29 to top Sabrina, as he reaffirms his label of the best shooter on the planet. You get the idea that Steph doesn't compete in the three point contest anymore to give the rest of the field a chance, but he accepted the challenge against Sabrina and rose to the occasion to put on yet another show during All-Star Weekend.
Sabrina Ionescu had the best ever Three Point Contest last year, and after hitting all but one of her three's in last year's WNBA contest, the basketball world was dying for a matchup between Steph and Sabrina. Sabrina shot from the NBA line with WNBA balls and posted a 26 which would have been good enough to at least get her into the tie break of the Three Point Contest played just minutes before.
The Stephen vs. Sabrina Three Point Contest was really the event of the night if you're asking for my opinion. Two of the greatest shooters on the planet went toe-to-toe and put on a show in the Cradle of Basketball.
Dame knew what he was doing all along. He just wanted to add a bit of drama, according to the Milwaukee Bucks sharp shooter. While he won the Three Point Contest, he didn't have the best shooting performance of the night.
Dame looked like he was going to cruise through the final round, needing to beat KAT's 24 and went into the final rack needing just one make. Always one for the drama, Lillard missed his first four, but drilled the final three ball to win his second straight Three Point Contest.
There was a four way tie in the first round of the Three Point contest which meant that Trae Young, Karl-Anthony Towns, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard went to a tie break after posting first round scores of 26.
After winning the relay and the passing part of the Skills Challenge, Tyrese Haliburton and Team Pacers were taken to a tie break by Team All-Star who had Scottie Barnes, Tyrese Maxey and Trae Young. The Pacers won it for the hometown crowd by winning the tie breaker with this half court shot.
After another ordinary dunk from Brown, McClung brought Shaq out and dunked it over the big fella for a universal 50 from the judges to secure his second straight Slam Dunk Contest.
This was another one of those years where the dunk contest failed to live up to the hype, and was maybe the third or fourth most exciting event of the night.
McClung stacked two of his buddies under the rim and windmilled it home for his first jam which was enough to take a slight lead over Brown in after the first dunk of the final round.
Brown's first dunk of the second round was not the most incredible jam we have seen, especially when you consider it was the final of the Dunk Contest but for some reason the judges loved it which make it tough for McClung on his next two dunks.
McClung is a back-to-back winner of the Slam Dunk Contest!!
McClung brought Shaq out and jumped over him reversed jammed it which gave him 50's across the board!
Brown came out and put the Michael Jackson glove on. jumped over Donovan Mitchell and windmilled it with the gloved hand.
Dominique gave him a 50 on his way to a 49.2 for his second dunk.
McClung had a friend come out and squat down, putting someone one his shoulders and the defending champ jammed it over both them.
He leads after the first dunk with a score of 48.8
Brown went with a 180 windmill on his first dunk of the final. That was enough for a 48.6.
The judges are being very generous with Jaylen Brown.
McClung is back in the Dunk Contest and is back in the finals after his first two dunks of the first round.
Jaquez got us started with a dunk over Shaq but maybe didn't get as many points as he might have deserved.
Two of the best shooters on this planet went toe to toe for the first time of hopefully many. Sabrina and Steph put on a show, and in the end it was Curry who took the title and the belt.
Jaylen Brown brings out teammate Jayson Tatum and Kai Cenat. Tatum threw it up for Brown who jumped over a sitting Kai and jammed it with one hand and then covered his eyes on the way down. That wasn't very impressive, but some how he's moving on.
The judges give him a 47.6.
And that sets up a final between McClung and Brown.
McClung played it safe on the second dunk. He cocked it over his head and then threw down a two handed windmiill.
That must have impressed the judges, who give him a 49.4
Toppin's second dunk is a counter clockwise 360 between the legs, which looked nice, but he threw it down on the second attempt.
That's good enough for a 47.2
Jaquez is up next
He caught it off the bounce and threw down a 360 double clutch. That wasn't too impressive. He was in last after the first dunk, and I don't think it's enough to move on to the next round.
The judges give him a 46.8,
Last year's champ and G-League sensation Mac McClung is up next and he jumped over someone, grabbed it let it go and jammed it on the reverse!
His score after his first dunk is 48 which puts him in second after the first dunks of the first round.
Jalen Brown is up next, and TNT actually didn't show the dunk on live, but on the replay we saw the Celtics star put down a two handed windmill that didn't look like the best dunk so far but that's good enough for a 48.8.
Topin is next, and had a similar set up for his first dunk. He took it off his buddy's head and threw it down on the double clutch.
His first round score on his first dunk is 47.8 to take the early lead.
Jaquez Jr. starts us off with a windmill jam over Shaq, who may have had his head ducked just a bit. Not amazing, but not terrible.
He gets a 47.4 on his first dunk
Jaime Jaquez is going to start us off.
Here are the judges of the Dunk Contest:
As always, one of the best Dunkers of all time: Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins (who won the Slam Dunk contest in 1985 and ’90) joins Fred Jones (2004) and Hall of Famers Gary Payton and Mitch Richmond as well as Darnell Hillman
Time for the Dunk Contest
The Dunk Contest has been called into question over the last decade or so. There has been a dip in creativity, a dip in quality and a dip in interest. The best dunkers and biggest stars in the league don’t always want to take part in the contest which has diluted the event from the days of MJ and Dominique battling to be crowned the High Flying King of the NBA. There are four contestants that will have a chance at two dunks in the first round. Once the first round of dunks are tallied, the top two will meet in the finals and be judged on their second batch of dunks. Whoever comes out winner of that round will be crowned the Slam Dunk Champion.
Contestants for this year’s Dunk Contest are:
Jalen Brown (Celtics)
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Heat)
Obie Topin (Knicks)
Mac McClung (Osecola Magic)
He's the best shooter ever for a reason. Steph had his work cut out for him after Sabrina put up 26 but Curry was cooking to end his round after starting a little slow. His 29 is a high for the night and good enough to win what is hopefully the first of many of these events between the top shooter in the NBA and the WNBA.
Sarbina was on fire coming out of the gate. She stepped up and didn't back down from the challenge. She went from the NBA line and put up a 26 which was the high score in the Three Point Contest that Lillard won, but then it was Steph's turn to take the stage.
Steph wins it!!!
He had 21 going into the final rack and had a final score of 29 to beat Sarbina and set the record high for the night!
That was incredible. Steph won, but Sabrina was on fire. Really cool to see, and hopefully this isn't the last time we see these two go at it during All-Star Weekend.
It's Steph's turn!
Ionescu goes big to put pressure on Steph!
Sabrina hit four of five on the first three racks and ends with a final score of 26!!!!
That was going enough to get her into the final round of the Three Point contest that Damian Lillard just won.
Here we go!
Sabrina is going to shoot with an WNBA ball but from the NBA line.
Sbe's going first so she's going to set the bar for Curry in this head to head battle.
Now it's time for the main event!
Steph vs. Sabrina!
Steph has the NBA Three Point contest record of 31, but Sabrina has the all time record of 36 after missing her first shot and making the next 25.
It's a Battle of the Sexes, and a battle of two of the best shooters on the planet! It's coming up next.
Back-to-Back
Dame made sure he left a little drama for late. He looked like he was going to run away with it going into the last rack, but missed his first four on the final rack to leave himself with a decisive final money ball, which of course he drilled to lock up his second straight Three Point Contest.
Dame had to get through the tie breaker after the first round, beat Haliburton to knock the hometown kid out and set up a final round against KAT and Trae Young.
Dame Time, again!!!
Dame is the third and final one to go and he had 24 going into the final rack, missed his first four to put some pressure on himself but drilled the money ball for a back to back 26 in the first and second round and that means he is a back to back Three Point Shooting Champion!
Young finishes strong
Young hit all five from the wing, but had a lot of work to do on the final rack. He hit four of five on the all money ball rack to finish with a 24!
KAT sets the bar
KAT started the final round off and had a chance to tie his first round score on the last money ball in the corner but he missed his money ball to end his final round with a 24.
Dame is still in the running for a back to back Three Point bid after a 26 in the first round and a 16 in the tie breaker to make the final round.
Haliburton was looking to run the table with a Skills Challenge and a Three Point Contest title, dropping 26 in the first round to join the four way tie, but he would have the lowest score in the tie break round with 11.
Trae got the three point contest started in fine fashion dropping 26 which was a great score, which you would have thought would have been enough to lock him in for the first round, but Hali, KAT and Lillard had something to say about that.
Lillard moving on
Lillard with a tie break score of 16 which puts him in the final round and KOs Haliburton officially.
KAT into the finals
KAT was on the money on his first few racks and ended the tie break with a 16 which is guarentees him a place in the finals.
Hali could be out
Hali was next and he got 11, which puts Trae in the next round but doesn't eliminate the home town kid just yet.
Whoever has the least amount of points in this round gets KOd from the final round.
They don't really know how to settle scores after the four way tie at 26.
After a bit of discussion they went to a 30 second shoot out and Trae Young stars off with a 15.
Lillard's back to back bid is still in the mix
Last year's champ Damian Lillard went 5/5 from the top of the key, hit a Starry ball but had some work to do on the final rack and hit four of five to join the tie at the top of the board at 26.
There were supposed to be just three going on, but after round one it's Lillard, Hali, KAT and Young moving on to the final round.
Finn-ished
Lauri Markkanen came up a one short of the 26 and will be missing the next round.
Brunson KO'd
Jalen Brunson is up next, and he hit all of his shots from the top of the key, struggled from both wings and had a chance to join the three way tie on the last rack but missed his last two money balls to end with a final score of 24.
KAT ties the first round high
The biggest guy in the contest is up next. KAT is up next and he ties the high score by hitting four of five on the money ball rack from the top of the key and drilled three of five including the last money ball to join Hali and Young at 26!
Beasley KO'd
Malilk Beasley is up next, and he started with just one three in the corner, hit all three from the wing, dropped two of five from the top of the key and got hot from the other wing hitting four of five. His money ball round was a little disappointing, hitting just two of the five for a final score of 20.
Hali tied for top spot
The hometown kid Haliburton is next up and he looked good throughout his first four racks, but lit it up on his all money ball rack to end his first round with a 26 which puts him in a tie for first with Young.
Spider's slow start
Donovan Mitchell is next up, and he started with the five money balls, hitting only two of them. He did hit a Starry Deep ball but ended up with a score of 21, which puts him in second place of two so far.
That's not a terrible score but Young set the bar high with his 26.
Young starts strong
Trae Young is up first and he started slow, hitting just one three of the first rack, Hit two on the Wins and a Money Bal, didin't hit any of his deep balls, but warmed up on his final three racks and ended with a first round score of 26 after hitting all five including the money ball on the last rack!
It's time for the Starry Three Point Contest!
The Three Point Contest has perhaps eclipsed the Dunk Contest as the most important event of All-Star Saturday. With the number of outstanding shooters across the league this is certainly the most competitive. As always, players will have five racks of five balls balls, four of which being worth one point, and a money ball which is worth two. There is a bit of a shift to the Three Point Contest this year, as the final rack is full of money balls, and there are a couple of deep shots called “Starry Balls” in-between racks two and three and three and four.
The Contestants for the Three Point Contest are:
Malik Beasley (Bucks)
Jalen Brunson (Knicks)
Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers)
Damian Lillard (Bucks), defending champ
Lauri Markkanen (Jazz)
Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)
Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves)
Trae Young (Hawks)
For those of you who haven't watched Indiana play this year, let me introduce you to Tyrese Haliburton. This dude is a bonafide superstar. This weekend in his hometown, he is putting on a show. He led his team to the Skills Challenge with this game winner from halfcourt to ensure the host city wins the Skills Challenge for a third year running.
Trae and company made sure the home team didn't walk away with a win too easily. Young, Barnes and Maxey are sharp shooters, and they forced OT in the opening round of the Skills Challenge but must have used up all their makes in the shooting portion, because they couldn't make a shot in the extra time session from half court.
Team Pacers Wins!
It all came down to the a half court shootout after Team Pacers and Team All-Star were tied after all three rounds of the Skills Challenge. It took Team All-Stars an eternity to make their half court shot which meant that Team Pacers could take their time and drill a three ball with plenty of time and drill take it in extratime!
The Pacers crushed it in the Passing Round too, but their shooting portion of the Skills Challenge let them down and that let Team All-Stars make a big come back to force it to Overtime.
The hometown boys started off with a 100 in the relay race! Haliburton and company got off to a hot start in the relay with the low time in the first round of the Skills Challenge.
This was how the Skills Challenge went down. There is a relay portion, a passing portion and a shooting portion. Second year star Paolo Banchero made sure he made his mark on this All-Star Weekend participating in every day of this event from Indy.
It's time for the Skills Challenge!
Following the structure of the last few Skills Challenges, there will be a three team competition that includes the host team, in this case the Indiana Pacers, Team Top Picks, and Team All-Stars. There will be three rounds that consist of a relay race between the three teammates, a passing round that will have each teammate throw passes at moving targets and accumulate as many points as they can, and finally a shooting contest that will have each team competing as a unit attempting to hit shots from various spots on the floor.
Team Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton, Benedict Mathurin an Myles Turner
Team Top Picks: Paolo Banchero (Magic), Anthony Edwards (T’Wolves) and Victory Wembanyama (Spurs)
Team All-Stars: Scottie Barnes (Raptors), Tyrese Maxey (Sixers) and Trae Young (Hawks).
We are live from Indy
Hello everyone and welcome to the cradle of basketball for this very exciting night from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. We have a night full of of entertainment in store as the best basketball players in the world are ready to put their skills on display tonight. We have the Three Point Contest, the Dunk Contest the Skills Challenge and a special three point shootout between Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu which is sure to be the event of the night.
NBA All-Star Game
It’s the NBA All-Star Breaks most entertaining night! There are a handful of events awaiting us tonight from Indianapolis as movie stars, pop stars, athletes and rappers have all converged on Indianapolis for All Star Weekend, and more specifically All Star Saturday. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, and highlights of everything going down at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.